Rotating Slide Shrimp Sorting for Accurate Individual Grading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shrimp sorting systems are inefficient and inaccurate for individually processed shrimp, especially when these shrimp have varying physical characteristics, and manual sorting introduces further inaccuracies.
Innovation Solution
A sorting system utilizing rotating slides and a controller to direct individually processed shrimp to specific delivery locations based on physical characteristics such as weight, length, heading status, and peeling status, with guide chutes to ensure precise delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If manual sorting is used for individually processed shrimp, then flexibility in handling various physical characteristics is improved, but sorting accuracy and efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical sorting with an automated system that uses imaging technology to capture shrimp characteristics, processes images through algorithms, and controls robotic arms for sorting. This substitution maintains adaptability to various physical characteristics while dramatically improving sorting accuracy and efficiency through automated image recognition and classification.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables shrimp to be sorted based on their own physical characteristics through automated detection. The imaging system captures and analyzes each shrimp's unique features (size, color, shape, defects), and the control system automatically determines the appropriate sorting category without human intervention, allowing the shrimp themselves to 'direct' their sorting based on inherent properties.
2Productivity
If bulk sorting systems are used, then processing speed is improved, but accuracy for individually processed shrimp deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the bulk processing approach by individually capturing and analyzing each shrimp's image characteristics. Instead of treating shrimp as a bulk group, the imaging system captures each shrimp separately, processes its unique features through image analysis, and determines its specific sorting category, thereby maintaining high processing speed while achieving individual-level accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces bulk mechanical sorting with automated individual imaging and analysis. Each shrimp is captured by the imaging system, its characteristics are processed through computer vision algorithms, and sorting decisions are made based on individual feature analysis, maintaining speed through automation while achieving precision through digital measurement and classification.
3Productivity
If automated sorting systems are implemented, then productivity and accuracy are improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs a multi-functional integrated platform that combines imaging capture, image processing, characteristic analysis, and sorting control within a single unified system. The robotic arms and imaging system serve multiple functions: capturing shrimp, analyzing various physical characteristics (size, color, shape, defects), determining sorting categories, and executing physical sorting operations, thereby managing complexity through functional integration rather than separate dedicated components for each task.
Data Source
AI summary
The sorting systems and methods described herein provide for the sorting of shrimp. The sorting systems may be combined with a delivery system. The sorting systems employ a pair of rotating slides and optional guide chutes to deliver shrimp to selected delivery locations.